Play Therapy Research Articles

Establishing trust and creating safety for play therapy service provision with an Australian aboriginal community: Informing culturally responsive practice.

Establishing trust and creating safety for play therapy service provision with an Australian aboriginal community: Informing culturally responsive practice.

A Comparative Study of Meditation Play and Art Therapy Programs Applying MMPT-Focusing on Child Anxiety, Mindfulness, and Self-Regulation

This study applied MPPT (Meditation Mindfulness Positive Psychology Training) to compare meditation play and art therapy programs and measure their effects on child anxiety, mindfulness, and self-regulation improvement. The subjects were 4th and 6th graders located in K city, Gyeonggi-do, and there were a total of 18 students, consisting of 6 in meditation play, 6 in art therapy, and 6 in control groups. The research period was from mid-April 2022 to mid-July 2022, and the two groups participating in meditation play and art therapy programs were treated once a week for 40 minutes, for a total of 10 sessions, and the control group was not treated. Mindfulness (K-CAMM) by Greco, Baer and Smith (2011), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) by Spielberger (1973), and Self-Regulation Abilities by Heo Jeong-kyung (2004) were used as measurement tools. For data analysis, SPSS 22.0 was used. For the results of the study, As a result, compared to the control group, the art therapy given to experimental group 2 decreased anxiety, increased mindfulness, and increased self-regulation compared to the meditation play given to experimental group 1. This paper has significance as it is the first in Korea to compare children's meditation play and art therapy programs to compare and verify their effectiveness on anxiety, mindfulness, and self-regulation.

Utilizing Puzzle Play Therapy for Alleviating Anxiety in Hospitalized Preschool Children

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness of puzzle play therapy in reducing anxiety levels among hospitalized preschool children (aged 3–6 years old) in the Flamboyan Ward at Dr. Moewardi Hospital. Method: Using a descriptive approach, the research adopts a case study design. Results: Both participants demonstrated a reduction in anxiety levels as per the Preschool Anxiety Scale (PAS) assessments conducted before and after the intervention. An. Ab’s anxiety level decreased from 4 (very severe anxiety) to 2 (moderate anxiety), while An. Ak’s anxiety level decreased from 3 (severe anxiety) to 1 (mild anxiety). Conclusion: The findings indicate that puzzle play therapy effectively reduces anxiety levels in preschool children, including those with severe and very severe anxiety levels. The author’s implementation of puzzle play therapy has proven to be successful in alleviating anxiety in children.

A network meta-analysis of psychological interventions for children and adolescents after natural and man-made disasters

IntroductionChildren and adolescents, after natural and man-made disasters, often exhibit various psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues, showing a range of clinical symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. This review used a network meta-analysis (NMA) approach to compare and rank psychological interventions for PTSD and depression in children and adolescents after exposure to natural and man-made disasters.MethodsRandomized studies of psychosocial interventions for PTSD and depression in children and adolescents exposed to natural and man-made disasters were identified. PTSD and depression symptoms at postintervention and 1–12 month follow-up are the outcomes. The standardized mean differences (SMDs) between pairs of interventions at postintervention and follow-up were pooled. Mean effect sizes with 95% credible intervals (CI) were calculated, and the ranking probabilities for all interventions were estimated using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve. Study quality was assessed with version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2).ResultsIn total, 26 studies with 4331 participants were included in this NMA. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) (SMD = − 0.67; 95% CI − 1.17 to − 0.17), exposure therapy (ET) (SMD = − 0.66; 95% CI − 1.11 to − 0.22), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (SMD = − 0.62; 95% CI − 0.90 to − 0.34) were significantly more effective for PTSD at postintervention than inactive intervention. EMDR (SMD = − 0.72; 95% CI − 1.11 to − 0.33) and ET (SMD = − 0.62; 95% CI − 0.97 to − 0.27) were associated with a higher reduction in PTSD symptoms at follow-up than inactive intervention. EMDR (SMD = − 0.40; 95% CI − 0.78 to − 0.03) and play therapy (PT) (SMD = − 0.37; 95% CI − 0.62 to − 0.12) were significantly more effective for depression at postintervention than inactive intervention. For all psychological interventions in reducing depression symptoms at follow-up compared with inactive intervention, the differences were not significant.ConclusionEMDR appears to be most effective in reducing PTSD and depression in children and adolescents exposed to natural and man-made disasters. In addition, ET and CBT are potentially effective in reducing PTSD symptoms at postintervention, while PT is beneficial in managing depression symptoms at the treatment endpoint.

Using Metaphors To Reduce The Uncertainty In Play Therapy Room

This article aims to describe how the strategy of reducing uncertainty occurs in the play therapy room. As a method in psychotherapy, a play and creative arts therapist must be able to establish a good relationship with the client so that the client feels safe and comfortable during the therapy process. To establish a safe and comfortable relationship, a process of reducing uncertainty is needed between the therapist and client when communicating in the therapy room. Berger and Calabrese consider that reducing uncertainty will result in self-disclosure which can strengthen the source-receiver relationship in the communication process. After conducting observation in Client ANA’s case for 24 sessions, it is found that in play therapy, the reduction of uncertainty occurred uniquely by using various metaphors chosen by the client independently. In ANA's case, the uncertainty reduction strategy started with an active strategy, followed by simultaneous use of passive and interactive strategies.

Dreaming of an abolitionist drama therapy

Despite long standing activist and academic calls for prison and police abolition and the need to consider how carceral logics are embedded in mental health practices, no known drama therapy scholarship currently focuses on these topics. We explain the problems with using policing, prisons, and punitive responses to systemic problems, articulating the ways in which these practices are deeply rooted in settler colonialism, anti-Black racism, ableism, capitalism, cis-heteronormativity, and other systems of oppression. We then offer an introduction to carceral logics and abolition, situating our work as not only about the absence of these punitive systems and ways of thinking, but also about imagining and building another kind of world. Approaches to behavioral escalation and suicidality are articulated as examples of sites of practice where drama therapists are often complicit in harmful practices and offer anti-carceral alternatives as harm reduction methods. We conclude with a call to action to drama therapists to engage in abolitionist practices in their work and to be part of the larger visioning process for a more just world.

Play therapy through the eyes of families

Play therapy through the eyes of families

Kegiatan Bermain sebagai Terapi bagi Anak-Anak Penyintas Gempa

The earthquake that occurred in Cianjur in November 2022 had an impact on all aspects. As a result of the accompanying team's observations and interviews with the children and those closest to them, it was found that the earthquake had an impact on the children's psychological condition. Among other things, they lose the fun and enjoyment of playing with their peers. They experience anxiety and fear and lack self-confidence. Childhood is a golden period in a series of developmental stages. During this period, almost all children's potential experiences rapid growth. This period is important because during this period various physical and psychological aspects develop. Considering this, in community service activities, one of the activities carried out is providing intervention for earthquake survivor children in the form of play therapy as a form of social support so that children can escape psychological trauma and return to age-appropriate developmental stages, such as being able to feel the fun of playing with his friends and exploring. After the intervention was carried out and re-observed, there were visible changes in the behavior shown by the children while playing. Those who were initially quiet, unhappy, and always wanted to be near their mother became active, laughed, and no longer worried after participating in play therapy activities.

The Effect of Play-Based Occupational Therapy on Playfulness and Social Play of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Since play is the main occupation of children, occupational therapists often use play as an approach to improve playfulness. However, for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is some uncertainty as to whether playfulness and social play can be improved through play-based interventions. To determine the effect of play-based occupational therapy on playfulness and social play of children with ASD, PubMed, EBSCOhost, OT seeker, Scopus, Sabinet, Cochrane, and ProQuest were searched. Rayyan was used to sort studies and extract data, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The methodological quality of the 12 eligible studies was reviewed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist tool and data were synthesized using meta-analysis techniques. This review found moderate to strong evidence for 11 of the 12 studies, that play programmes, with a combination of guided and free play, individual, and group therapy sessions, effectively promoted playfulness and social play.

Comparison and evaluation of two play therapy breathing exercises to reduce anxiety in children receiving local anaesthesia: A randomized clinical study

Background: Children are anxious about dental procedures and the anaesthetic needle’s sight and feeling have been identified as the most fear-eliciting stimuli. Psychologists have used ‘play therapy’ to modify child behaviour to alleviate pain and anxiety during elective surgery in children. The pinwheel and bubble blower have been used in play therapy for children to bring about deep breathing which in turn brings about relaxation and anxiety reduction. Objectives: To evaluate and compare the use of two relaxation breathing exercises for anxiety reduction before and after administration of local anaesthesia for 6–12-year-old children undergoing dental treatment. Method: Forty-five children were divided into 3 groups as control, pinwheel breathing exercise and bubble blowing breathing exercise. The children were given a demonstration of the breathing exercise before local anaesthesia administration and asked to perform the exercise for 3 to 5 minutes. Anxiety was measured before and after administration of local anaesthesia with pulse rate and Venham’s picture scale score. Results: Post-operative rise in pulse rate was seen in all groups but was statistically significant in the control group and the bubble blowing breathing exercise group (p<0.05). The least rise was seen in the pinwheel breathing exercise group. The post-injection Venham’s picture test score was the same as the pre-injection score in the pinwheel exercise group but had increased for the other two groups which was statistically not significant. Conclusions: The play therapy relaxation breathing exercises can be successfully used for anxiety reduction in children receiving local anaesthesia.

Effect of gestalt play therapy on empathy in hard-of-hearing children

Effect of gestalt play therapy on empathy in hard-of-hearing children

Investigating the Therapeutic Impact of Play Therapy on Pain and Anxiety: A Comprehensive Study among Hospitalized Children (Aged 8-12) in Paediatric Wards

Investigating the Therapeutic Impact of Play Therapy on Pain and Anxiety: A Comprehensive Study among Hospitalized Children (Aged 8-12) in Paediatric Wards

The Effect of a Group-Based Play Therapy on Executive Function, Working Memory and Self-Efficacy in Children with ADHD

The Effect of a Group-Based Play Therapy on Executive Function, Working Memory and Self-Efficacy in Children with ADHD

GAME THERAPY AS A FACTOR IN THE FORMATION OF ADOLESCENTS COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The article examines game therapy as the concept of “communication skills”, as a necessary condition for successful communication, and identifies tasks aimed at developing communicative competence. The corrective capabilities of play therapy as a factor in the development of skills necessary for effective communication in adolescence are also analyzed and, in this context, tasks for psychological support of adolescents are identified.

Application of Play Therapy to Children's Anxiety Level Due to Hospitalization

Hospitalization occurs because the child is sick, which can cause fear and anxiety problems. The need for treatment due to anxiety, one of which is providing play therapy. Play therapy is a structured game, which is implemented by nurses with the aim of reducing anxiety due to hospitalization. The method used is a descriptive case study with 2 respondents who experience anxiety. The level of anxiety was measured in pre-post therapy using the QUESTT questionnaire which contained an anxiety scale, namely the Facial Anxiety Scale (FAS) and Visual Facial Anxiety Scale (VFAS), followed by providing play therapy coloring pictures for 3 consecutive days within 30 minutes. The result of applying play therapy to both respondents was the disappearance of anxiety. In child F with the pre-play therapy FAS anxiety scale, a score of 3 was obtained and post-therapy a score of 0, while the VFAS pre-play therapy obtained a score of A4 and after play therapy, a score of A0 was obtained, likewise for child G, the anxiety level with the pre-play therapy FAS scale was obtained with a score of 1 and The play therapy port got a score of 0, while the pre-play therapy VFAS got a score of A2 and post play therapy got a score of A0. Play therapy is effective in reducing or even reducing anxiety in children due to hospitalization. It is hoped that nursing staff will be able to apply play therapy to nursing care in overcoming anxiety problems due to hospitalization in children.

The Effectiveness of A Teddy Bear Hospital in Reducing Anxiety Towards Healthcare Setting Among Primary School Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Objective: The Teddy Bear Hospital (TBH) is a worldwide concept of imaginative play therapy. TBH was initiated to address children’s fear andanxiety towards healthcare setting. Children will bring their teddy bears to see the “teddy doctor” and will act as the parents or guardians while observing the main aim of a clinic or hospital visit. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the IMACATS’ TBH intervention module on reducing children’s anxiety towards healthcare professionals. Methods: A pretest-posttest pre-experimental study was conducted in from May to December 2022. Participants were among primary school students in Selangor. This study was approved by Ministry of Education and informed consents were obtained from parents prior to recruitment. 45 participants were recruited with the help of teachers. There were two assessment points, one month before (preintervention) and one week after TBH event (post intervention). The same questionnaire was used at those two points. Study instruments consisted of two sections (sociodemographic background and level of anxiety towards healthcare professionals using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) with 6-point Likert scale. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 26.To evaluate the effectiveness of TBH, mean scores will be compared between pre and post intervention. Results & Conclusion: 45 participants were recruited with the help of teachers but only 40 completed the questionnaire. Majority were female (60%) and from low socioeconomic status (45%). All participants were Malay. The mean scores for each item of level of anxiety towards healthcare personnel range from 1.73 to 4.0 for pre-intervention and 1.05 to 3.28 for post-intervention. The total mean score of anxiety level for pre- and post-intervention also reduced from 10.13±3.22 to 7.50±2.31 respectively. Hence, we can conclude that TBH is effective in reducing anxiety level of children towards healthcare setting. International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue 01: 2024 Page: S51

Clinical Efficacy of Psychotherapeutic Interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Analysis.

Background: This systematic review aggregates research on psychotherapeutic interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. PTSD in this demographic presents differently from adults, necessitating tailored therapeutic approaches. In children and adolescents, PTSD arises from exposure to severe danger, interpersonal violence, or abuse, leading to significant behavioral and emotional disturbances that jeopardize long-term development. The review focuses on describing PTSD within two age groups, children (6 to 12 years) and adolescents (12 to 18 years), while evaluating the effectiveness of various clinical interventions aimed at this condition. Methods: Utilizing the PRISMA guidelines, this review systematically examines studies that assess clinical interventions for PTSD in the younger population. Results: Key symptoms of PTSD in children and adolescents include avoidance, overstimulation, flashbacks, depression, and anxiety. The review identifies several effective treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Systemic Therapy, Play Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Relaxation Techniques, and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. Particularly, TF-CBT is highlighted as the most effective and commonly used method in treating childhood and adolescent PTSD, as supported by most of the studies reviewed. Conclusions: A significant outcome of this study is the short-term effectiveness of CBT in reducing PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents. The findings underline the importance of psychotherapeutic interventions and mark a substantial advancement in understanding PTSD in young populations. It is crucial for practitioners to integrate various psychotherapeutic strategies into their practice to improve patient outcomes and treatment efficacy.

Interpreting the Process of Play Therapy from the Essence of Play Using the Philosophical Perspective of Fusion of Horizons

<p>遊戲治療越來越受到重視，遊戲的本質包含自由、自主、創造、美以及內在語言經驗的樣貌。本文透過高達美詮釋學的視域融合，指出遊戲者與遊戲的第一層視域融合，以及遊戲者與治療師或親子遊戲治療之受訓照顧者的第二層視域融合。治療師要在兩層次視域融合中不斷的貼近、對話及循環，以協助遊戲者在接觸當下時間的意識流中，形成一個帶著過去及未來經驗流的意義，從而達到遊戲治療的目的。在治療的視域融合中，建議作法為：（1）治療師勿過度把自己的創造及自主性放入遊戲，使遊戲者自由及創造力被壓抑；（2）若讓遊戲者在遊戲中擁有無限上綱的自由度，會使視域融合失去對話的空間；（3）讓遊戲者能被允許有容錯容亂的空間；（4）讓遊戲場域有冒險空間，培養遊戲者積極的感覺，表達出原不為人所知的情感路徑。透過視域融合機制，讓遊戲者在遊戲場域開放自己，經歷自主性的自由，貼近內在語言、探索情緒，進而達到視域融合的開放性。遊戲治療存在的多元理論與實務運作，治療師應持開放但保留的態度，反思自己的位置，及審視自己的習慣，而採納有限的觀點與做法，謙卑地開啟未來遊戲治療的更多可能、方式及知識的開展。</p> <p> </p><p>Play is one of the important assets to mankind. The essence of play characteristic includes freedom, autonomy, creativity, beauty, and image that show human inner language experiences. Through Gundam’s interpretation of the theory of knowledge, the fusion of horizons, the article builds two levels of fusion of horizons models: the first-level fusion of horizons model between the player and the play field, and the second-level model between the player and the therapist or the trained companion. In the process of both fusion of horizons models, continuous closeness, and dialogue and circulation, play therapy has formed a meaningful healing ability with the stream of consciousness that exists in the present time along with the past and future experience streams, and achieves the purpose of play therapy goals. The therapist should handle cautiously during the process of play therapy. In order to make the therapy process meaningful, some suggestions from the article are summarized as follows: (1) The therapist should be careful not to put their own creativity and autonomy into the game too much, so that the players themselves can play freely and creativity won’t be suppressed in the game; (2) The unlimited degree of freedom in the game makes the vision of the therapist and the child merge into an invalid dialogue; (3) Allow players a space where errors and disarray are permissible ; (4) There is space for adventure in the game field, which could cultivate the player’s positive feeling, and the player might express the previously unknown emotional path from the game world. Through the fusion mechanism, the player could open himself and have the opportunity to experience the freedom and autonomy from the play, and touch the phenomenon of inner voice to explore the emotions of the player and see the self-appearance. There should be an open and reserved attitude towards the other innovated methods of game therapy in epistemology. In the existing play therapy framework, we should learn from knowledge models and think about whether we are accustomed to controlling this play therapy performance by the own way. The performer of therapy framework should humbly open up the many possibilities, methods and knowledge development of future game therapy.</p> <p> </p>

The Effectiveness of Child-Centered Play Therapy on Increasing Assertiveness and Social Skills of Preschool Children of a Divorced Family

The Effectiveness of Child-Centered Play Therapy on Increasing Assertiveness and Social Skills of Preschool Children of a Divorced Family

Play Therapy for Children Exposed to Natural Disasters

Natural disasters occur with increasing frequency every year in our country and around the world. The largest forest fires, in recorded history, occurred in Türkiye in 2021, and the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, called the disaster of the century, occurred in 2023. Between these dates, our country has struggled with disasters such as avalanches and floods, as well as earthquakes and fires. Due to their unexpected nature and devastating impact on individuals' lives, natural disasters can also have shocking effects on individuals' mental health. Undoubtedly, many people have been affected by these disasters. However, children are a risky group among those affected by natural disasters because their coping skills are limited and they have not yet achieved their independence. In addition, it is known that traumatic experiences in the first years of life negatively affect the individual's development. Therefore, it is thought that the psychological support provided to children after a natural disaster is important. In this sense, play therapy appears as one of the effective intervention methods in the psychological support service provided after natural disasters. The aim of this study was to enable mental health professionals working with children exposed to disaster to understand possible psychopathologies and to create a framework for the role of play therapy in intervening.